High tension disconnecting switch



Dec. 18, 1956 J. A. TURG EON HIGH TENSION DISCONNECTING SWITCH Filed Feb. 16,

INVEN TOR. Jars v flZber-Z' nryem Dec. 18, 1956 J. A. TURGEON 2,774,832

HIGH TENSION DISCONNECTING SWITCH Filed Feb. 16, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Warn e54 1956 J. A. TURGEON 2,774,832

HIGH TENSION DISCONNECTING SWITCH Filed Feb. 16, 1956. 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 nited States Patent HIGH TENSION DISCONNECTING SWITCH Joseph Albert Turgeon, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, as-

signor to Eastern Power Devices Limited, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Application February 16, 1956, Serial No. 565,970

Claims. (Cl. 200-48) This invention relates to high voltage line disconnecting switch.

The conventional disconnecting switch'for high voltage power lines is of comparatively bulky and spaceconsuming nature, requiring a long steel base and at least two columns of heavy insulators. The structural details of the switch itself are very costly and clearing of the ground area as well as construction of the foundation therefor are likewise of expensive nature.

It is an object of this invention to provide a disconnecting switch of simplified structure and elfective operation and which is of substantial space-saving character whereby a substantial reduction in ground area required therefor is effected with resultant reduction in foundation costs.

The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is aside elevation of a disconnecting switch structure in accordance with the invention, with the switch in open position. i i

Figure 2 is a partial side elevation of the switch structure with the switch in closed position,

Figure 3 is another side elevation showing the switch in closed position,

Figure 4 is a plan view of the supporting arrangement for the conductors,

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the supporting arrangement shown in Figure 4,

Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional elevation of the switch blade actuating mechanism.

Figure 7 is another enlarged sectional elevation of the switch blade actuating mechanism, and

Figure 8 is a plan view of a jaw contact for the blade.

Referring to the drawings, the switch structure is entirely supported on a single steel post or column 1 having a bracing foot portion 2 mounted upon a concrete or like base 3. Mounted on post 1 is a bracket 4 which carries a heavy rigid insulator column 5. A lightweight insulator column 6 is rotatably carried by column 5 and bracket 4, columns 5 and 6 being in parallel laterally disposed relation to each other. Column 6 includes an axial shaft 7 the lower end of which is journalled in a bearing assembly 8 carried by a housing 9 secured to bracket 4. The upper end of shaft 7 is rotatably supported in an arm 10 fixed to the upper end of column 5. Means for manually rotating column 6 with shaft 7 may comprise a handwheel 11, shaft 12 having universal joint 13 therein, and conventional gearing (not shown) in housing 9.

A jackknife switch blade 14 having pivotally connected short and long arms 15 and 16 is operatively connected to the upper end of shaft 7 by mechanism generally indicated at 17.

Referring to Figures 6 and 7, mechanism 17 includes a pinion gear 18 fixed to shaft 7, a bevel gear 19 meshing with gear 18 and mounted on a shaft 20 to the axis of which is normal to that of shaft 7. Shaft 20 is journalled in bearings 21 mounted in a housing 22. Housing 2,774,832 Patented Dec. 18, 1956 22 has a depending tubular extension 23, through which the upper end of shaft 7 extends and which is revolvably mounted in an outer housing 24 by means of bearings 25. Housing 24 is in turn carried by a tubular end portion 10a of arm 10. It will be observed that housing 24 has an upper generally hemispherical portion 242: which is open at the top and extends substantially completely around housing 22 and in spaced relation thereto.

A cam roller 26 is rotatably carried on a pin 27 extending radially outwardly from the periphery of gear 19 and mounted in a bracket 28 fixed to gear 19. Roller 26 is disposed in a complementary cam track 29 formed in member 30 fixed to the inner surface of housing portion 24a. Cam track 29 has an initial vertically ascending section 29a and terminates in a horizontal section 2%.

Fixed toshaft 20 are a pair of arms 31 from the upper ends of which is suspended, as. by means of an annular bracket 32, a substantially hemispherical housing 33 which extends downwardly in spaced overlapping relation to portion 24a of housing 24. Fixed to annular bracket 32 and extending upwardly therefrom is arm 15 of blade 14. It will be observed that arm 15 is of tubular form. A sprocket chain 34 extending through arm 15 drivably connects a sprocket 35 on shaft 20 and a sprocket 36 fixed to a shaft 37 journalled in the outer end portion of arm 15. As shown, arm 16 has an end yoke 38 the legs of which are fixed to'the ends of shaft 37. A sprocket 39 on a shaft 40 carried by annular bracket 32 engages one travelling section of chain 34.

The complementary contact assembly for the blade is hung upon a pair of bus wires 41 and comprises a pair of jaws 42 having a constricted throat section 43.

The contact portion 44 of arm 15 is preferably of oval or ellipticaleross section as indicated in Figure 8.

In order to obtain greater stability, it is desirable to support the double bus wires 41 on two strings 45 of strain insulators at each end thereof. Each insular string 45 is spring-loaded at 46 to compensate for line movement due to temperature variations. Moreover, as shown in Figure 4, the strings 45 are set at outwardly diverging angles to provide lateral stability.

In operation, with the blade in open position as shown in Figure 1, closing of the blade is effected by rotating shaft 7 through handwheel 11. Consequent rotation of pinion gear 18 drives bevel gear 19. Since roller 26 is in the vertically ascending section 29a of the cam track, it permits rotation of gear 19 about its horizontal axis while preventing it from revolving about the axis of shaft 7. Such rotation of gear 19 swings housing 33 and arm 15 through approximately 70 (as shown) to place arm 15 in upright position, and at the same time through sprocket 35 and chain 34 turns sprocket 36 through approximately to swing arm 16 into upright position. During this movement, portion 44 of arm 16 first enters jaws 42 and then moves into the throat 43, arms 15 and 16 being then in colinear relation. When arms 15 and 16 reach such position, roller 26 enters section 29b of the cam track which prevents further rotation of gear 19 about its horizontal axis. It is then constrained to revolve about the axis of shaft 7. Such revolving movement rotates arms 15 and 16 and twists elliptical portion 44 into contact with throat 43 thus providing necessary wiping action and contact pressure. It will be apparent that opening of the switch is accomplished by a reverse action.

It will be apparent that use of the jackknife switch blade described provides a simplified and space saving disconnect switch.

It will be observed that the blade actuating mechanism lends itself, as shown, to complete and satisfactory housing and shielding in all positions of the mechanism.

It will further be apparent that by suitable rearrangement of the cam track, the blade in open position may be located at a 90 angle to that shown in Figure 1. This may be desirable in certain instances in order to cut down phase clearance on the lower bus portion of the switch by the amount of the length of the upper arm 16.

I claim:

1, A high tension disconnecting switch comprising a single supporting post, an insulator column mounted on said post, a second insulator column having a shaft rotatably carried by said first column, manually operable means for rotating said shaft, a switch blade having a pair of pivotally connecting arms, a contact assembly having a pair of jaws for reception of one of said arms, said arms being swingable into colinear relation for reception by said jaws and into angular relation with each other for withdrawal from said jaws, and gear and chain means connecting said shaft with said arms and responsive to rotation of said shaft in one direction to swing said arms from said angular relation to colinear relation and thereafter to rotate said colinear arms into twisting contact with said jaws, said means being responsive to rotation of said shaft in the reverse direction to initially rotate said colinear arms out of twisting contact with said jaws and thereafter to swing said arms into said angular relation.

2. A disconnecting switch as defined in claim 1, said gear and chain means comprising a gear fixed to one end of said shaft, a housing revolvably mounted on said end of the shaft, and fixed to the other of said switch blade arms, a shaft journalled in said housing and disposed at right angles to said first shaft, a second gear fixed to said second shaft and meshing with said first gear, a sprocket fixed to said second shaft, a sprocket rotatably carried by said other switch blade arm and having a fixed connection with said one switch blade arm, a chain drivably connecting said sprockets,- a second housing surrounding said first housing and rotatably mounted with 4 respect thereto, and cooperating cam means carried by said second housing and said second gear to arrest rotation of said second gear about the second shaft and connect said housings together for revolution about the axis of the first shaft.

3. A disconnecting switchas defined in claim 1, said gear and chain means comprising a gear fixed to one end of said shaft, a housing revolvably mounted on said end of the shaft and fixed to the other of said switch blade arms, a shaft journalled in said housing and disposed at right angles to said first shaft, a second gear fixed to said second shaft and meshing with said first gear, a sprocket fixed to said second shaft, a sprocket rotatably carried by said other switch blade arm and having a fixed connection with said one switch blade arm, a chain drivably connecting said sprockets, a substantially hemispherical housing surrounding said first housing and rotatably mounted with respect thereto, a cam track fixed to said hernis pherical housing, and a cam roller fixed to said second gear and engaging said cam track, said cam track having a portion permitting rotation of said second gear about its axis and a portion locking said housings together for revolution of said second gear and housings about the axis of said first shaft.

4. A disconnecting switch as defined in claim 3, including a hemispherical housing suspended from said other switch blade arm and extending in overlapping spaced relation to said other hemispherical housing.

5. A disconnecting switch as defined in claim 1, including conductor cables carrying said contact assembly, and means supporting said cables comprising a pair of springloaded strings of strain insulators, said strings being disposed in outwardly diverging relation to each other.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,748,211 Butz May 29, 1956 

